Polisher for rolling mills



Dec.

L. c. STEELE 2,140,860

POLISHER FOR ROLLING MILLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1957 INVENTOR 7 gramme/6M ymmmmzz W1- L. C. STEELE Dec. 20, 1938.

POLISHER FOR ROLLING MILLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1937 'INVENTOR Dec. 20, 1938. Q STEELE 2,140,860

POLISHER FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed March 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 'L/QSTEELE POLISHER FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed March 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES.

PATENT 'OFFICE' POLISHER FOR. ROLLING MILLS Lawrence 0. Steele, Union, W. Va.

' Application March 11, 1937, Serial No. 130,361

8 Claims. (Cl. 51254) My invention relates to roll polishing'apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for polishing plain cylindrical rolls employed in rolling mills in the rolling of metal.

One object of my invention is to provide apparatus for maintaining the 'rolls of a rolling mill in working condition during operation of the mill, for such periods as to materially reduce the need for their removal from service for subsequent dressing operations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a roll polisher of such form that it will be effective to maintain the rolls free of scale and other foreign matter, and will be substantiall self-cleaning. 1

Another object of my invention is to provid means for preventing rapid wear and self-contamination of the roll polishing element.

A further object of my invention is to provide a roll polishing apparatus of generally simplified and improved form.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure l is a sectional view of a rolling mill taken transversely through the rolls;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the line III-.III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the polishing element for the upper roll;

Fig. 6 is a view takenon the line VIVI of Fig.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to '6, I

showthe polishing apparatus in cooperative relationship with a pair of rolls l0 and I I, that are journalled in the roll stands or housings |2, the housings |2 being supported on the girders I3 in the usual manner. The upper roll II is journalled for movement toward and away from the lower roll in, and both rolls are adapted to be driven in a manner well known to the art.

Associated with each of the rolls l0 and H is a roll polishing element or wheel l5, that is supported for traveling movement back and forth in directions longitudinally of the rolls. As shown .more clearly in Fig. 4, each of the polishing wheels is mounted on a shaft 16 that is journalled at its ends in bearings I! carried by a supporting yoke 8. The yoke I8 is rigidly secured to a shaft l9 that is journalled in a slide block 20. The block is slidably supported on a guide rod 2| and also has slidable engagement with a screw shaft 22. The guide rod 2| is supported at its ends in bushings 23 secured to upright wing portions 24 of a base plate or bracket 25.

As shown in Fig. 5, the span of the yoke 3 for the-polishing element |5 of the top roll I is such as to permit limited movement of the polishing element and its shaft IS in axial directions, as shown in dotted lines, so that the polishing element 5 will automatically follow the movements of the top roll II and accommodate itself to the vertical position thereof.

The supporting bracket 25 is mounted on the flanges of the housings i2 and is securely held therebetween by means of the'hold-down bolts 21, with the wing portions 24 disposed adjacent to the inner faces of the roll housings. The screw shaft 22 is journalled at its ends in the wings 24 and is disposed in parallelismto the guide rod 2|, the guide rod 2| and the screw shaft 22 each being disposed in parallelism with the axis of its adjacent roll, so that movement of the slide block 20 along the guide rod 2| and the screw shaft 22 will move the polishing wheel longitudinally of the roll. Antlfriction guide rollers 28 are rotatably journalled in the slide block 20 for supporting the block for movement on the rod 2|.

A lever arm 3|! is mounted on'the shaft |9 and has key connection therewith to effect rocking movements of the shaft while permitting the shaft to slide relative thereto in axial directions. The lever arm 30 has pivotal connection with one end of a link 3| that slidably extends through a block 32 which is pivotally secured to the lower side of the block 20. A spring 33 is carried by the link 3| and is interposed between the end of the lever 30 and the block 32, the lever and link forming a toggle Joint. The lever 30 is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 34 by means of which-the lever and the shaft scribed by the stops 35.

The polishing wheel I5 is normally maintained in an'oblique position with relation to the longitudinal axis of the associated roll, for move- .ment in one direction across the longitudinal face of the roll. The polishing wheel is yieldably maintained against the face of the roll by means of a tension spring 36 that has one end secured to a boss 37 formed integrally with one of the stop abutment blocks 35, and its other end fixed to thimble-like member 38 which has telescopic engagement with a reduced end portion 39 of the shaft IS. The tension of the spring 36 is adjusted by means of adjusting screw 40. As the slide block 20 is moved along the rod 2| and the screw shaft 22, as hereinafter I described, to move the polishing wheel l5 across the face of the roll, the arm 34 is brought into abutting engagement with a stop 4| that is mounted on the upright wing 24 and causes turning movement of the lever 30 and the shaft l9. Whenthe toggle passes over center, the spring 33 continues the movement of the shaft until the lever 30 engages the opposite abutment 35. This movement results in changing the po sition of the polishing wheel relative to the longitudinal axis of the roll. Thiis, during traversing movement of the polishing wheel in a direction opposite to that just described, the

wheel will be maintained in a different oblique position relative to the roll; At the end of such traversing movement, the arm 34 will engage "an abutment 42 to rea'ctuate the toggle and cause the polishing wheel to assume its other oblique position.

A motor 44 is mounted on the base plate 25 and through a sprocket wheel 45 and sprocket chain 46 drives a sprocket wheel 41 that is mounted on one end of the screw shaft 22 of the polishing device associated with the lower roll Ill. This screw shaft is provided with another sprocket wheel 48 and has a chain driving connection 48a with sprocket wheel 49 mounted on the screw shaft of the polishing device associated with the upper roll ll, whereby these screw shafts are driven substantially in synchronism.

Each screw shaft 22 is provided with a rightand left-hand thread and cooperating therewith is a screw follower 50 formed on the under side of a cylindrical block 5|, that is rotatably positioned in the upper portion of the slide block 20. The thread follower cooperates with one of the screw threads and causes traversing movement of the slide block 20 in one direction along thei screw. At its one end, the left-hand screw thread is connected with the adjacent end of the righthand thread by means of an annular cam groove or slot 52 (Fig. 3), so that the thread follower 50 will be turned on its axis as it leaves the left-hand thread, and be led into the right-hand thread, thereby reversing the direction of movement of the slide block 20. Similarly, at their other ends, the threads are connected by means of a cam groove or slot 53 to cause the thread follower to be directed into the lead of the left-hand screw thread. It will be understood, of course, that movement of the polishing wheel l5 into opposite angular position with relation to the adjacent roll will have been effected prior to reversal of movement of the slide block 20.

The polishing elements or wheels 15 are preferably formed of carborundum or other abrasive materials and are of cylindrical or tubular form with concave faces, the curvature of the concave faces corresponding to the curvature of the adjacent rolls along the oblique line of contact therebetween, so that there will be engagement between the rolls and the polishing elements throughout the entire length of the polishing wheels. It will be seen that due to the oblique or skewed position of the polishing wheels relative to the'rolls, there will be a differential wiping action therebetween to effectively clean and polish the rolls and at the same time cause the polishing wheels to be rotated on their axes, thereby continuously presenting fresh polishing surfaces to the rolls. The wiping action between the polishing elements and the rolls, of course, is augmented by the continuous traversing action of the polishing elements longitudinally of the rolls, thereby eliminating excessive wear of the polishing elements. Also, the reversal of the angular position of the polishing elementarelative to the rolls, at the end of each traversing movement, causes reversal of the direction of rotation of the polishing elements through contact with the rolls, which is, therefore, effective to assist in removing scale and other foreign material from the rolls and the polishing elements.

In the operation of the device associated with each roll of the mill, the desired degree of pressure between the polishing element l5 and the body of the roll is efiected by tensioning of the,

spring 36. The polishing wheel [5 is also initially turned about the axis of the supporting shaft iii to set the axis of the wheel at an oblique or angular position relative to the axis of the roll, the, concavity of the wheel being such as to permit rotary movement of the wheel about the axis of the shaft l9 until its face coincides with the curved contour of the adjacent surface of the roll, and is yieldably maintained in this position by the toggle spring 33. In this angular position the concave face of the wheel will be in contact from end-to-end with the side of the roll, and forms an inclined deflecting surface against which foreign matter on the roll impinges and is deflected therefrom. The screw shaft 22 being driven by the motor 44, the screw follower 50 cooperates with the righthand andlefthand threads on the shaft, causing the carrier 20 and the polishing element l5 carried thereby to traverse the length of the roll alternately in opposite directions. During such traversing movement, the lever 34 alternately engages the stops 4l-42 to actuate the toggle device 30--3I associated with the shaft l9, thereby automatically turning the shaft l9 and reversing the angularposition of the polishing wheel. Since tween the roll and the wheel, which serves efl'ectively to clean and polish the roll.

Uniformity of polishing action at points along the roll is assured, regardless of differences or variations in roll diameter because of the fact that the spring 33 permits turning movement of the wheel about the axis of the shaft l9, whereby sents an angular deflecting surface to scale and 5 reversing of its angular position and its direction of rotation.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I show another manner of effecting reversals of movement at the end of each path of travel of the polishing carrier. In this instance, the screw shaft 220. is provided with right-hand and left-hand threads. A rocking lever 55 is pivotally mounted in the carrier block a and is provided with projecting arms 56 and 51 having thread-engaging portions formed on their outer ends, each of which is movable alternately into position to cooperate with the right-hand and left-hand threads of the screw shaft. The rocker member 55 is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 58, and has connection with one end of a spring 59, the other end of the spring being secured to the slide block 20a. The upper end of the arm 58 is arranged to be disposed over center with respect to the pivotal support for the rocker member 55 when either of the thread-engaging arms 56 and 51 is moved into thread-engaging position. A stop member 60 is suitably supported adjacent to each end to the path of travel of the slide block 20a with which the arm 58 is brought into engagement to rock the member 55 in a direction to move one of the thread-engaging arms out of engagement with its thread, and to move the other thread-engaging arm into engagement with the opposite thread of the screw shaft 220., thereby efiecting reversal of traveling movement for the polisher carrier 2011.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, I show provisions for cooling the polishing wheels and the rolls, by

means of steam jets directed against the same, adjacent to the point of contact therebetween. A steam conduit iii of substantial yoke-like form is mounted on the polishing wheel-supporting yoke 62 by means of brackets 63. The legs of the conduit 6| are provided with outlet nozzles M which direct the steam against the rolls and the polishing wheels. Steam is admitted to the conduit from any suitable source through flexible hose connections leading to the steam inlet 65. Since the rolls are operated at approximately 500 F. it will be seen that the steam blast will be effective to cool both the rolls and the polishing Wheels. Also, the steam blast will be effective to carry away particles of scale and other foreign matter loosened from the rolls by the polishing elements.

The polishing apparatus is mounted preferably at the rear or discharge side of the rolls so as not to interfere with the feeding of metal into the rolls.

It will be understood that the base plate which carries the polishing elements and operating mechanisms may be mounted in some other manner than on the roll housings, since it could be attached to a movable wheeled carriage and brought into polishing relation with the rolls whenever desired.

I claimas my invention:

1. The combination with a rotatably supported roll having a cylindrical body and means for rotating the roll, of a polishing element dis posed in an angular position relative to the axis of the roll and in contact with the body of the roll, means for moving said element longitudinally along the roll in opposite directions, and means automatically actuated at a predetermined point in the path of travel of said element, for changing the angular position of the element relative tothe axis of the roll.

The combination with a rotatably mounted roll having a cylindrical body and means for rotating the roll, of a polishing element in contact with the body of the roll, means for supporting said element for traveling movement in a path parallel to the axis of the roll, means for automatically reversing the direction of said traveling movement at points adjacent to each end of the roll, means for holding said element in an oblique position relative to the axis of said roll, and means operable at predetermined points during said traveling movements of said element for reversing the oblique position of said element relative to the axis of said roll.

3. The combination with a rotatable roll having 'a cylindrical body, of a polishing wheel having a concave roll engaging face incontact with the body of the roll at one side thereof, means for supporting said wheel with its axis disposed obliquely to the axis of the roll, means for reciprocating said wheel in directions longitudinally of the roll, and means operable periodically during reciprocatory movements of said polishing wheel for changing the oblique position of said wheel relative to the axis of the roll.

Roll polishing apparatus comprising a ca rier, means for supporting the carrier, means for reciprocating the carrier in directions lengthwise of a roll, a shaft journalled on the carrier, a yoke on the forward end of the shaft, a polishing element rotatably mounted in said yoke, in engagement with the adjacent side of the roll, means operatively connected to said shaft for maintaining said polishing element with its axis oblique to the axis of said roll. and means disposed in the path of travel of the carrier for actuating said last-named means, to turn said shaft, whereby said element is moved into another oblique position relative to the axis of the roll.

5. Roll polishing apparatus comprising a carrier, means for supporting said carrier, means for reciprocating the carrier in directions lengthwise of a roll, a shaft journalled on the carrier, a yoke on the forward end of the shaft, a polishing element rotatably mounted in said yoke the axis of said element being oblique to the axis of the roll, means for yieldably maintaining said element against the adjacent side of the roll, a toggle device connected to said shaft and movable to rock the shaft and thereby rock said yoke. and resilient means yieldably maintaining the toggle device in a position to hold said yoke and element in either of two oblique positions.

6. Roll polishing apparatus comprising a carrier, means for supporting said carrier, means for reciprocating the carrier in directions lengthwise of a roll, ashaft journalled on the carrier, a yoke on the forward end of the shaft, 2. polishing element rotatably mounted in said yoke, the axis of said element being oblique to the axis of the roll, means for yieldably maintaining said element against the adjacent side of the roll, a spring pressed toggle device connected to said shaft for yieldably maintaining said element in said oblique position, and means'for actuating the toggle device at predetermined points in the path of travel of the carrier, for changing the.

oblique position of the said element relative to the axis of the roll.

7. In'apparatus for polishing rolls or the like, the combinationwith a rotatable roll, of an elongated polishing wheel having a concave roll-engaging face, means for supporting said Wheel for rotation on its axis, means for positioning said wheel with its axis disposed obliquely to the axis of the roll and with said concave face in contact substantially from end-to-end with the adjacent surface of the roll, means cooperating with said last-named means for yieldably maintaining said wheel in said oblique position, and means for effecting feeding movement of said wheel parallel to the axis of said roll.

8. In apparatus for polishing rolls or the like, the combination with a rotatable roll, of an elongated polishing wheel having a concave rollengaging face, a yoke for supporting said wheel for rotation on its axis, means for supporting said yoke for rotary movements on an axis disposed perpendicular to the axis of the roll, means operatively connected to said yoke-supporting means for yieldably biasing said yoke to such a rotary position that said wheel is yieldably held in an oblique position relative to the axis of said roll and with said concave face in contact from e'nd-to-end with the adjacent surface of the roll, and means for effecting feeding movement of said wheel in directions parallel to 10 the axis of the roll.

I LAWRENCE C. STEELE. 

